Speed-change mechanism.



C. S. REINHART.

' SPEED CHANGE MECHAN1SM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7. 1913.

L un a E c. s. REINHART.

SPEED CHANGE MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR-7.1913.

Patented Nov. 9,1915.

SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Suva U601 Q vi lwwoow C. S. REINHART. SPEED CHANGE MECHANISM.

APPLICATION HLED APR-1, 1913 1,159,709. Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

v 4 SHEET$SHEET 3- fiaa' we 96 f a wi/hwoom C. S. REIN'HART. SPEED CHANGE MECHANISM. APFLICATION man APR. 1. 1913.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

4- SHEETSSHEET 4.

' awoen coz anisms, forming a part of the tranmisslon shown in Fig.

UNITED srarns FPATENT ornron.

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' swan-cannon MECHANISM. I

1,159,709. I Application filed April 7, 1

mechanisms, and has for an object to produce improved automatic means for controlling the operation of speed change meeh mechanism, or for varying the torque or purchase of the transmission mechanism, in accordance with variations in the resistance or in the load encountered, This and other objects I attain in a transmission mechanism embodying the features herein described and illustrated in. the drawings which accompany and form a part of this application.

Throughout the following description, I have considered my invention as embodied in the power transmission mechanism of an au-' tomobile or self-propelled vehicle, but with no idea of in any way limiting the application of the invention, since it will be apparcut to those skilled in the art, that my invention has a wide range of a plication.

In the drawings accompanying this application, and forming a part thereof, Figure 1 is a plan view of the frame portion of a vehicle equipped with my invention; the arrangement of the apparatus, and particu larly thewiring, is somewhat diagrammatic, for the purposes of description. Fig. 2 is .a diagrammatic view of an automatic controller which forms a detail of my invention and which is shown in connection with a wiring diagram illustrating electrical connections which may be employed in apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a solenoid, which, in the illustrated embodimentof my invention, operates to control the operation of the cone or master clutch, forming a part of the transmission mechanism. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the controller shown in Fig. 2 and is illustrated in connection with a side elevation of the actuating mechanisms of the controller, the casing of the actuating mechanisms being shown in. section, for convenience of illustration. Fig. '5 is an end elevation of the controller and of the casing 4. Fig. 6 is a fragmental sectional view along the line.6+6 of Fig. 4,

Specification of Letters latent.

plate which 7 tion of the plate is shown in I 15 of the vehicle, which pled to the driven.

PatentedNov. 9, 1915. 913. Seria1No.75 9,412.-

and illustrates the actuating mechanism of a forms a part of the automatic controller. -'Fig. 7 is a seetionalview along the line 7-7 of Fig. 9 and illustrates a set of speed change gears and automatically controlled means for controlling the operation of the gears. Fig. 8 is a sectional view along the line 8--8 of Fig. 7; and Fig. 9 is a lan view of the apparatus illustrated in igs. 7 and 8. Fig. 10 is a view of the controller, corresponding to Fig. 2, and showing the plate 17 and the arm 18 in the positions they occupy when the speed change gears are in the neutral osition, as shown in Fig. 7. A somewhat simplified wiring diagram is also shown in connection with Fig. 10. Fig. .11 illustrates in full lines the relative positions of the plate 17 and arm 18, during the operation of shifting from the low to the intermediate speed gears. Thenormal posidotted lines and the position to which moved by the operation of shifting the gear 86, is shown by the dotdash lines. Fig. 12

shows in full lines the relative positions of the plate and arm durlng the operation of shifting from the high speed gears to the intermediate speed gears, and the dot-dash lines show the position to which the plate is positively moved by the shifting of the gears. I

The transmission mechanism of the vehicle. illustrated, includes an engine or motor '11, a torque-varying or speed change device 12, a clutch mechanism 13 for coupling the engine shaft to the driving shaft 14, of the speed change device, and a propeller shaft is operatively coushaft 16 of the speed change device and is operativel connected to the rear axle of the vehicle 1n the ordinary manner. is also provided for controlling the operation of the transmisison mechanism, so that, if the load on the engine becomes too heavy or great for a certain speed of the vehicle, the load-responsive means will automatically actuate the torque-varying or speed change device, to shift from a high to a lower speed gear, with a greater torque or purchase, and will thereby render the power of the engine effective and sufiicient in-driving the vehicle the plate is positively A load-responsive mechanism will automatically actuate the speed change device, to shift from the low to a higher speed gear, with a smaller torque or purchase, so that the engine will, at all times, operate at or near full load, and without the danger of being overloaded.

One of the principal objects ofmy present invention is to provide a power transmis sion mechanism which will simplify the operation of driving an automobile, propelled by an internal combustion equipped with speed change gears, by eliminating the necessity of manually shifting the gears.

Another object is to provide means which will operate automatically to maintain the load on the engine substantially constant and which will therefore prevent the engine from being overloaded and stalling, or from being underloaded and racing, during the running of the vehicle.

: weights.

'- 18, through the The load-responsive device includes a con troller which consists of a centrifugally controlled, pivotally mounted plate 17, and a centrifugally controlled, pivotally mounted contact arm 18, which is adapted to move across the plate 17 and to cooperate with electrical contact bars mounted on the plate, for the purpose of opening and closing actuating circuits of electrically actuated devices, which form a part of the load responsive mechanism. The plate is controlled from the engine shaft, so that it occupies different positions relatively to its mounting frame or the casing 19, for different speeds of the engine. This is accomplished by employing apparatus which, to some extent, embodies the principle employed in the well known speedometer construction, and consists of centrifugal weights 21, so mounted on a rotatable shaft 20 that they are capable of occupying different relative positions for different speed of rotation of the shaft 20. The weights are so connected to a rack 22 that it is moved to different positions in response to variations in the relati "e positions of the The rack operates, through a pinion 22 and bevel gears 23, to turn the plate 17 about its pivotal point. The rotating shaft, on which the weights are mounted, is operatively connected to the engine shaft in any suitable manner, so that its speed of rotation is equal or proportional to the speed of the engine shaft. The arm 18 is actuated by similar apparatus, which is driven by the driven shaft 16, of the speed change gears, or by the propeller shaft '15 of the vehicle. As illustrated, the arm-actuating apparatus consists of the centrifugal weights 21 which are so mounted on a rotatable shaft that they are capable of reciprocating a rack 22 in response to variations in speed of their driving shaft. The rack 22 is capable of imparting its motionto the arm agency of bevel gears 23' engine and and an arbor 24011 which the arm 18 is mounted. With this'arrangement the plate 17 moves to different positions, in response to variations in speed of the engine shaft and the arm 18 moves to different positions in response to variations in the speed of the propeller shaft of the vehicle, and consequently the relative positions of the plate 17 and the arm 18 indicates the relative speeds of the engine shaft and of the propeller shaft. In addition to this, the plate 17 is capable of being positively shifted, relatively to the arm 18, at the time of shifting the speed change gears, for the purposeof varying the torque or purchase of the transmission mechanism, and consequently, it acquires a new zero speed position for each speed change gear employed as a driving agent. This is accomplished, in the apparatus illustrated, by shifting the position of the plate actuating apparatus about the arbor 24, when the gearsof the speed'change device are shifted. The casing 19 not only supports the plate 17, but it also incloses the actuatin apparatus of the plate and the arm. T e plate 17 is composed of two sector-shaped portions which are secured to-- gether 'at their apexes, and the plate is so mounted that its pivotal point is between the sector shaped portions. The arm 18 swings across the plate for the purpose of engaging contact bars,mounted thereon, and of completing the actuating circuits of the ignition apparatus of the engine, the actuating circuit of a controlling solenoid 25, of the clutch mechanism 13," and the actuating circuit of an actuating motor 26, of the speed change gears.

The ignltion system of the engine is controlled by means of two pairs of arc-shaped bars 27 and 27', which are mounted on the plate 17 and which are adapted to been gaged by a contact piece 28, mounted on the arm 18. Each of the bars ed to one of the bars 27' by means of a wire 29, and one of the bars 27 is connected by means of a wire 30, to one lead of the ignition system 31 of the engine. The ignition system, illustrated, is grounded on the frame of the machine, and consequently the other lead of the system is connected to a battery or other source of electrical potential 32 by means of a wire 33, which is grounded on the frame. The other bar 27 is electrically connected to the-battery 32 by means of a wire 34. The circuit just described is completed by means of a contact piece 28, which is mounted on the arm 18, and is adapted to contact with both of the bars 27, or both of the bars 27 in accordance with the position which the arm occupies, relatively to the plate. When the piece 28 contacts with both the bars 27, current flows from the battery through the wire 34, through the. contact piece 28, the

27 is connected on the arm current flows frame of the machine, and back through the wire 33 to the battery. The plate 17 is also provided with two pairs of contact bars 35' and 35, and a contact piece 36 is so mounted on the arm 18, that it is adapted to electri-' .cally connect the two bars of one pair or the 35 by means of a 'wire 37, and the bars 35 are. electrically connected, so that when the contact piece 36 engages them, current-will flow from the battery through the wire 34, through a branch wire 38, one contact bar 35, the contact piece 36, the other contact bar 35', through an electro-magnet 42, a wire 43, the win ing of the solenoid 25, a wire 44, a double-throw switch 45, and through the wires 46 and 48, back tothe battery. When the contact piece 36 engages the bars 35, current flows through substantially the same circuit, except that the wires 37 and the contact bars 35 are in cluded in it. \Vith this arrangement the solenoid is energized when the arm occupies a position near either edge of" the plate 17, or in other words, when the contact piece 36 velectrically connects the bars of either of the sets 35 or 35. The plate 17 is also provided with contact bars 49, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 and 57 which are arranged in two groups of four bars each, and each group is located on opposite sides of the pivotal point of the plate. The bars of each group are arranged in pairs and those of one group areadapted to cotiperate with a contact piece 58, mount- 18, while the bars of the group on the opposite side of the pivotal point are adapted to be engaged by a contact piece 59,

mounted on the arm, as the arm swings from one extreme position to the other, relatively to the plate. This arrangement of bars and contact pieces is employed for the purpose of providing an automatic controller and an automatic reversing switch for the motor 26. When the arm 18 is moved to such a position, relatively to the plate 17, that the contact piece 58 engages the plates 49 and 51, (f one group, and the contact piece 59 engages the bars 56 and 57 of the other group, from the battery 32 through a wire 61, to the bar 56, through the contact piece 59, to the bar 57, from the bar 57 through a wire 62 to the bar 54, and thence through a w1re'63, an electro-mechanically controlled motor control-and gear locking back to the battery.v

device 64, a wire 65, a circuit breaker 66, a

wire 67, a circuit breaker 68, and a wire 69,.

to one terminal of the motor 26. Current from the motor returns through the wire 70, a manually controlled reverse switch 71, a

wire 72, the bar 51, the contact piece 58, the

bar 49, a wire 73, and the wires 47 and 48,

Current flowing a wire 39, the windin of guide for a through this circuit drives the motor 26 in one direction, which, for convenience of description, may be termed the forward direction,'as illustrated by the unfeathered arrow in Fig. 9. When the arm 18 occupies such a position that the contact piece 58 electrically connects the bars 52 and 53, and the contact piece 59 electrically connects the bars 54 and 55, the flow of current through the motor 26 is reversed and it is driven in the opposite or the reverse direction. With the arm 18 in such a position, current from the battery flows through the wire 61, a branch wire 74, the bar 53, the piece 58, the bar 52, a wire 75, the bar 51, the wire 72, the reverse switch 71, and the wire 70, to one terminal of the motor 26. From the motor the current returns through the wire 69, the circuit breaker 68, the wire 67, the circuit breaker 66,. the wire 65, the electro-mechanical dev1ce'64, the wire 63, the bar 54, the contact piece 59, the bar 55 and through the wire-48 to the battery.

The clutch mechanism or master clutch 13', illustrated in Flg. 1 of the drawings, consists of a member 76, which is shown rigidly mounted on the shaft of the engine 11, and

the member 77 which is splined or otherwise secured to the driving shaft 14 of the speed change device 12, so that it can be moved into and out of clutching engagement with the member 76. A coil spring 78 is shown in Fig. 1 for normally holding the separate parts of the clutch in clutching engagement with each other and for thereby operatively connecting the engine shaft to ,the driving shaft 14 of the speed change 1 gears. The solenoid 25 is employed for the purpose of moving the member 77 out of clutching engagement with the member 76, and thereby operatively disconnecting the engine from the speed change device.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the solenoid is provided with a spool 79, which forms a support for the winding, and also forms a plunger 81, which is adapted to form a core for the solenoid and is capable of moving into the central passage of the spool, in response to the magnetic pull resulting from a passage of current through the winding. connected to the member 77 of the clutch 13, in any suitable manner. When a current passes through the winding of the solenoid, the plunger 81 is drawn into the central passage of the spool, and thereby actuates the lever to break the clutching engagement between the members 76 and 77, and to operatively disengage the engine fronrthe transmission mechanism of the vehicle. The construction of the spool 79 and the plunger 81 is such that the solenoid will act quickly in breaking clutching engagement between the members 76 and 77, but will retard the action of the spring 78 in forcing the mem- The plunger is operatively ber 77 back into clutching engagement with the member 76. after the solenoid is deenergized. This is accomplished by closing the inner end of the plunger passage formed within the spool, and by providing a checkvalve 83, at that end of the passage which is so arranged that it will permit a substan tially free or unobstructed flow of air from the passage, as the plunger 81 moves inwardly, but will prevent a flow of air into the passage. With such an arrangement the plunger 81 is capable of moving rapidly, in response to the pull of the magnetic force, when the solenoid is energized, but the return motion of the plunger, is, impeded by air pressure, since the valve 83 prevents a flow of air into the passage as the plunger moves outwardly. and the only means of delivering air to the portion of the passage back of the plunger is through the clearance space between the plunger and the inner surface of its guide. The smaller this clearance space is made, the more the air delivery passage will be restricted, and consequently, the greater the retardation of the spring 78, and the slower the clutching operation of the clutch 13.

The speed change device, illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, consists of the driving shaft 14, the driven shaft 16, and the high, intermediate, low and reversing gears. As has been said, the shaft 14 is capable of being directly connected to the shaft of the engine 11, and the driven shaft 16 is operatively connected to the propeller shaft 15 of the vehicle. The high speed gears, illus: trated, comprise gears 84 and 85, which are respectively mounted on the shafts 14 and 16. The gear 85 is rigidly mounted on the shaft 16 and the gear 84 is so mounted on the shaft 14, that, while it is,positively locked against relative rotary motion, about the shaft, it is capable of being moved along the shaft, into and out of mesh with the gear 85.. This may be accomplished in any desired manner, as for example, by splining the gear 84 on the shaft 14, or, as illustrated, by squaring a portion of the shaft. The intermediate speed gears comprise the gear 86, which is mounted upon the shaft 14, and a gear 87, which is rigidly mounted on the shaft 16. The gear 86, like the gear 84, is capable of being shifted to different positions along the shaft, so that it can be moved into and out of mesh with the gear 87. The low speed gears comprise a gear 88, mounted on the shaft 14, and, like the gears 84 and 86, movable longitudinally therealong, and a gear 89, which is rigidly mounted on the shaft 16.

he reversing gears, illustrated, comprise a gear 91, rigidly mounted on the shaft 14,

an idler gear 92, mounted on the casing 93, of the speed change device, and a gear 94, splined on the shaft 16, and capable of being one of the moved along the shaft and into and out of mesh with the idler gear 92, which is continuously in mesh with the gear 91. The

gear 94 may be provided with any suitable means, such as an actuating lever 94', which may be manually operated to control the operation of the reversing gears.

The gears 84, 86 and 88 are automatically actuated by means of a gear-shifting device, which, as illustrated, comprises the motor 26, a gear 95, driven by the motor, a pin 96, which 'is actuated by'the gear 95, and Which is moved into and out of operative engagement with gear-shifting arms, with which each of the gears 84, 86 and 88 are provided. The gears 84 and 86, secured together, and are provided in common with a gear-shifting arm. 97 which is capable of shifting them longitudinally along the shaft 14, so thatthe gear 86 may be moved into or out of engagement with the gear 87, and the gear 84 may be moved into and out of engagement with the gear 85. As illustrated, the arm 97 projects upwardly through a slot 98, formed in the top of the casing 93, and is bifurcated at its upper end, for the purpose of engaging the actuating pin 96. As illustrated, the prongs 99, of the bifurcated end of the arm, separately formed and are so constructed that they form a shoulder which engages the upper face of the casing operates with the slotto guide the motion of the arm. The gear 88 is provided with an actuating arm 101, which also projects upwardly through the slot 98. The slot, as illustrated, consists of two parallel end portions 102 and 103, and an inclined intermediate portion 104, which connects the end portions. Each end portion is also provided with an extension or off-set 105, which coiiperates with its corresponding end portion, in completing a way along which one or the other of the gear-shifting arms moves. For example, the gear-shifting arm 97 moves only in a direction parallel to the shaft 14, and its motion is confined to a path of travel along the end portion 102 and the corresponding extension 105 of the slot, while the arm 101 isv confined to a path of travel along the end portion 103 and its cotiperating extension 105. The pin 96, is, however, adapted to move through the entire length of the slot 98, but not into either of the extensions 105, and, in moving from one end of the slot to the other, it first actuates gear-shifting arms, by moving it along its corresponding end portion of the slot 98, and then, after having traversed the intermediate inclined portion of the slot, it

engages the other gear-shifting arm and as shown, are rigidly and which 00- its corresponding end por are preferably ceiving slot 106,- into which the upper end of the pin projects, and in which it 1s loosely mounted; The slot 106 is so located that the pin 'is readily moved by it, through the slot 98. As illustrated,the slot 106 extends in asubstantially radial direction, and the gear 95 is so located relatively to the slot 98, that the intersecting portionof the slot 106 extends at right angles to theslot 98 for all positions of the gear. As illustrated, the casing 93 is provided with an auxillary top or cover, 107, which is provlded W1th a slot similar to the slot 98,except that it is not provided with the extensions 105. This slot coiiperates' with the slot 98, and with the slot 106, provided on the gear, inguiding the pin through the slot 98, in response to motion of the gear, and in preventing it from blnding, during its motion through the slots, and

also from entering elther of the extensions '10:") of the slot.

The operation of the gear 95 is controlled by the coiiperation of the automat1c controller and the electro-mechanically actuated device 6 1, which consists of the electromagnet 42 and a pivotally mounted armature 108, provided at its outer end with an circuit of the motor 26. As illustrated, the

tact piece 36 switch comprises twoflexiblecontacts 112 and 113, which are diagrammatically shown in Figs. 2 and 10, located between the wires 63 and 65, and capable of completing an .electrical circuit between those wires, when the armature is actuated by the magnet 4:2. The magnet 42 is energized when the conengages either pair of bars 35 or 35', on the controller plate 17, and this actuates the armature .108, to release the gear 95 and to simultaneously complete the operating circuit of the motor 26, by forcing the contact 113 upwardly into engagement ,with the contact 112. The armature is held in this position, irrespective of the pull of the magnet 42, by its engagement with the upper edge of the flange 111, and consequently, the motor circuit remains closed and the motor continues to drive the ear until the extension 109 of the armature alls into the nxt adjacent slot 110. When the armature drops into one of the slots 110 it simultaneously checks the motion of the gear tor 26. The slots 110 are so spaced that each movement of the gear 95 will render one or another of the sets of speed gears op- 95 and cuts off the'current to the mo erative or inoperative, as power transmitting agents.- For example, the gear 95 in moving in a counter-clockwise direction, as indicated by the feathered arrow, and from the position shown in Fig. 9, will move the pin 96 alon the slot 98, so that it moves the gear 88 rom the neutral position, shown in Fig. 7, to a position in which it meshes with the gear 89 and thereby renders the low speed set of gears effective in transmitting power to the driving axle of the vehicle. 'The gear 88 will occupy thisposition, relatively to the gear 89, when the gear 95 has moved to such a position that the armature extension 109 enters the slot 110. The. next motion of the gear 95 in the counter-clockwise direction will cause the armature extension to drop into the slot 110 and will actuate the pin 96 to move the gear 88 to a neutral position on the right of the gear 89. During this movement of the gear 95 the pin 96 will also move the gear 86 into mesh with the gear 87. This is accomplished by sliding the pin 96 along the slot 98, so that it first shifts the gear-shifting arm 101 into'the extension 105 of the portion 103 of the slot 98, and then moves through the inclined portion of the slot, into engagement with the gear-shifting arm 97, which it moves to such a position in the portion 102 of the slot 98, that the gear 86 shifts into mesh with the gear 87. The final movement of the wheel in the,counter-clockwise direction actuates the pin 96 to move the arm 97 to such a position that the gear 86 is moved out of mesh with the gear 87, and the gear 84' is moved into mesh with the gear 85. This renders the intermediate set of gears inoperative and the high speed gears operative, as the driving gears of the vehicle; and it also moves the gear 95 to such a position, relatively to the armature 108, that the extension '109 drops into the slot 110. When the motor 26 is driven in the reverse direction, so that it turns the wheel 95 in a clockwise direction, and moves it from the position just described, in which the extension 109 engages the slot 110 the pin 96 operates first to render the high speed gears ineffective, and to render the intermediate speed gears effective as the driving gears of the car. A continued motion of the gear 95 in the clockwise direction causes the pin 96 to render the low speed gears eifective as the driving a ent of the car, after the intermediate spec gears have been rendered ineffective, and finally, when the gear is moved to. the position shownin Fig. 9, the low speed gears are rendered ineffective and the extension 109 will enter the slot 110*. It will, of course, be understood that during this operation of speed change device, the gear 94 of the reversing gears is moved out of mesh with the gear 92, so as to render the reversing gears inoperative.

The operation of shifting the gears of the speed change device positively shifts the position of the plate 17, relatively to the arm 18, and thereby changes its no-speed position for each set of speed gears employed in the transmission mechanism. This is accomplished by roviding a rod 115 (see Figs. 7, 8 .and 9 which is actuated by the gear-shifting arm position of the plate-operating mechanism and also of the plate about the arbor 24. The rod 115 is operativel connected to a bell crank116, (-see Fig. 1i which, in turn, is operatively connected to alink 117, a bell crank- 118, and a rod 119. One end of the rod 119 is pivotally secured to a pin 120 (see Fig. 4), which is mounted on an inner casing 121. The casing .121 is so mounted within the casing l9that it is capable of swinging about the arbor 2a, and the pin 1 120 pro ects through one slot120 formed in the casing 19, while the shaft 20 projects through a second slot 20. When the earshifting arm 97 is moved tothe position shown in Fig. 7, and the gears 86 and 84 are in the neutral or. inoperative position, with relation to therespective gears 87 and 85, the rod 115 shifts the actuating mechanism of the plate to such a position that the plate and the arm 18 occupy the relative positions shown in Fig. 10, when theengine and the vehicle are both at rest. When the gear-shifting arm is moved so as to render the intermediate. gears operative as ower transmission agents, the rod 115 dot-dash line position shown in Fig. 11, as willbe further described, during the description of the operation of the apparatus. When the arm 97 is again moved to render the'high speed gears operative, and the intermediate gears inoperative, the plate is rod 115, so that the are, through which it sponse to the. variations in position of the centrifugal balls 21, is again varied with re lation to the angle of action of the arm 118. I have also provided means for automatically breaking the actuating circuit of the motor 26- when the" automatic controller tends to actuate the motor 26, to throw into operation a set of higher speed gears, after the highest speed gears have already been rendered operative. This may be accomplished in a number of ways, but, in the apparatus illustrated, I have provided a circuit breaker 68, which is shown in Figs. 2 and 10 located between the wires 67 and 69, and is adaptedto break when the arm 97 operates to shift the gear 84 to the right (Fig.7) after that gear has been moved into mesh with the gear 85. In other words, the coiiperation between the rod 115 and the circuit breaker 68 .is such that the rod operates to break the control 97 and which shiftsthets the position of the plate 17 to the .the change speed those gears,

the motor control circuit circuit of the motor 26, when the motor 26, operatin in response to the operation of the automatic controller, tends to turn the gear in a counter-clockwise direction, so that the slot 109. I have also provided a similar circuit breaker 66, for breaking the control circuit of the motor 26, when the gear 88 is moved into the neutral position, with. relation to the gear 89. As shown in Figs. 2 and 10, this circuitbreaker is similar to the circuit breaker 68, is located between the Wires 65 and 67 which form a part of the motor control circuit; and it is controlled by means of a rod 123, which is secured to the gear-shifting arm 101. .Both the rods and 123 are shown provided with an elongated metal. collar 124, which, for certain positions of their mounting rods, complete the metallic circuit between oppositely disposed spring contacts, which form a part of thecircuit breaker. In Fig. 1, the circuit breakers are diagrammatically shown and each one consists of two spring contacts which are normally in engagement with each other, but which are adapted to e moved apart, for the purpose of breaking the circuit, by their respective actuating rods. similar construction 1S diagrammatically shown in Figs. 2 and 10. I

When the engine and the vehicle are boththe res ective actuating mechanisms, of the plate 1 and arm 18, are in their normal or inoperative positions, and the plate and arm consequently 0ccliy their normal or nospeed positions. nder ordinary conditions gears of the speed change and the controlling apparatus of will occupy the positions .shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, when the vehicle is at rest. The speed change device will be rendered inoperative and the'circuit breaker 68 will. break the circuit of the motor 26 when the vehicle comes to rest, and the plate 17 and arm 18 occupy the relative positions shown in Fig. 10. With the plate and the arm in these positions, the contact piece 28, on the arm, engages the bars 27 pletes the ignition circuit; and the contact p ece 36 contacts with the bars 35' and energizes the solenoid 25 and the ,electro-magnet 42 of the timing device." This renders the device,

'master clutch 13 inoperative, as hasbeen is moved beyond the'extension and com arm occupy the.

at rest, the centrifugal balls 21 and 21' of I must therefore be short circuited, and in ad- 'dit'ion to this, the current must be delivered through the motor 26, in a direction which will cause the motor to turn the gear 95 in a clockwise direction; that is, the motor must run in the direction it runs while actuating the gear 95 to shift from a low speed gear to a higher speed gear. This is accomplished by turning the manually actuated reversing switch 71 and thereby electrically connecting the wire 72 with the wire-.69, by means of a wire 125, and by connecting the wire 65 with the wire 7 O.- This completes the control circuit of the motor 26 and causes the motor to turn the gear 95 in a counter-clockwise direction and to thereby actuate the arm 101, through the agency of the pin 96, and to render the low speed gears of the speed change device operative, in transmitting power to the propeller shaft 15 of the ve-, hicle. A switch 127, is located in the control circuit of a starting motor 128, for the engine 11. The turning of the switches127 and 71 closes the'control circuit of the motor. 128, thereby starting the engine 11 and motor 26, which operates to throw in low gear 88. The shifting of the gear 88 closes the circuit breaker 68, and consequently the switch 71 and switch 127 can be opened as soon as the engine is started.

The running of the engine causes the plate 17 to turn about pivotal point, in a clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 10, and this movement of the plate carries the bars 35 from under the contact piece 36, and breaks the energizing circuit of the solenoid 25 and of the electro-magnet 42, and the deenergizing of the solenoid permits the spring 78 to render the clutch 13 operative, and consequently, the vehicle starts as soon as-the gear 88 is shifted into mesh with the gear 89. Prior to rendering the master clutch operative, the ignition circuit has been instantaneously broken and; again closed by the passage of the contact piece 28 across the gap between the bars 27 and 27 These bars are, however, so located on the plate, and thecontact piece 28 is so proportioned that it will engage the bars 27 and complete the ignition circuit before the piece 36 is moved off of the bars 35'. As

soon as the engine starts to drive the car, the arm 18 swings in a counter-clockwise direction, in response to its centrifugal control- This, however, hasno efiect'upon the motor 26, since the deenergizing ofthe' magnet 42 .of the armature into one of the slots 110 permits the spring contact 113, of the circuit breaker-located between the wires 63' and 65, to move out of contact with the contact 112, and to thereby break the motor control circuit. As'the vehicle continues to increase in speed, the arm 18 continues to swing in a counter-clockwise direction, relatively to the plate, andv the plate, due to the increasing speed of the engine, continues to move in a clockwise direction, and consequently the arm moves the contact pieces 58 and 59 into contact with the respective sets of bars 52 53, and 54-55,, and finally completes the energizing circuit of the solenoid 25, and of the electro-magnet 42, by moving the piece 36 into contact with the bars 35. This simultaneously renders the master clutch 13 inoperative and completes the motor control circuit, by pressing the contacts 112 and 113 into engagement with each other. As soon as the master clutch 13 is rendered inoperative, the tendency of the engine is to speed up, but this is prevented,

to a great extent, by so proportioning the the intermediate speed gears operative, as power transmltting agents of the vehicle, by

shifting the gear 86 into mesh with the gear 87. The starting of. the motor 26 moves the slot 110, from which the armature 108 has been released, from under the extension 109 and the rim 111 holds'the armature in theraised position by its engagement with the extension 109. This holds the contact 113 in engagement with the contact 112 and consequently continues the How of current through the motor 26, independently of the position of the contact 36, with relation to the bars 35. In other words, after the timing device has been set, by the cooperation of the magnet 42 and a movement of the gear 95, the control circuit of the motor 26 will remain closed as long as the contact pieces 58 and 59 engage one or the other of their coiiperating sets of contact bars and independently of the magnetization of the magnet 42. If the magnet 42 is de-magnetized at the time one of the slots 1.10 moves positive shiftin mg device will operate to break the motor circuit by the'dropping of the extension into the slot. This willalso lock the wheel 95 in position, until it is again released by the operation of the magnet 42. As has been described the 0 ration of shifting the gear 86 positively shifts the position of the plate 17, with relation to the arm 18'; the arrangement is such that this of the plate, under the conditions described, will turn the plate in a counter-clockwise direction, so that the bars 35 are'positively moved from under the contact piece 36 and the bars 27 are moved under and into engagement with the contact piece 28. This breaks the motor control circuit and also insures the passage of ourrent through the ignition circuit. This positive shifting of the plate does not interfere with its centrifugal control, but merely changes the limits of its motion, in response to the operation of the centrifugal apparatus.

It will be apparent that, with the intermediate speed gears operative and the plate 17 having a, positively adjusted operating position, the engine or the vehicle will have to increase in speed an amount excess of the speed at which the controller was capable of rendering the intermediate gear operative. If,v however, the speed of the engine and the vehicle do increase to such an extent that the arm 18 is moved, relatively to-the plate, sothat the contact pieces 58 and 59 again contact with the bars 52--53 and 54-55, respectively, and the contact piece 36 again contacts with the bars greatly in I 35, the master clutch will be again rendered inoperative, the motor control-circuit will be again closed, and the motor 26 will operate to shift the gear 86' out of mesh with the gear 87 and the gear 81 into mesh with the gear 85. The operation of shifting the gear 84, positively shifts the position of the plate 17 and its centrifugal controlling apparatus. This shifting of the plate, for the -purpose of establishing a new position thereof, positively moves the bars 35 out of engagement with the contact piece 36, and this, as has been said, breaks the energizing I circuit of the solenoid 25 and the electro magnet 42. This renders the clutch 13 0perative and permits the motor control circuit to be broken by the timing device 64, as soon as the ear 95 hascompleted the operation of shi ting the speed change gear 84. It will, of course, be understood, that under practical working conditions the speed of the engine will 'be somewhat reduced by the operation of throwing in a higher speed gear, and consequently, the plate 17 will tend to move, in response to the decrease in speed, in a counter-clockwise directiomrath'er under the armature extension 109, thetimclutch 13 from bein t moves the wheel (See Fig.'10). of the plate will prevent the again rendered inoperative, b having t e contact piece 36 engage the ars 35; but, operating through the high speed gears,'is capable of increasing in speed to such an extent that the contact piece 36 is again moved into engagement with the bars 35, the circuit than a clockwise direction.

his motion breaker 66 will operate to break the control '26 and thereby prevent circuit of the motor the motor'26 from burning out, or the speed change device from being wrecked by the effort of the motor to move in a direction for throwing in a higher gear. After the controller has operated in response to con ditions such as those just described, some means must be employed for actuating the circuit breaker 66 to again close the motor control circuit. illustrated, I have provided a spring buffer 130, which is adapted to engage a lug 131, provided on the wheel 95. he bufl'er,'while being. incapable of stopping the motor 26, is so arranged that back to the osition in which the slot 110 is capable of being engaged by the extension 109, after the motor if the engine, while.

control circuit is broken by the operation I it does not shift the gears. of change device, but allows the high speed gears to remain operative. .For this reason ,it makes no difference how many times the circuit breaker 66 operates during the operation of the vehicle. to the fact that the contact piece 28, in moving 01f of the bars 27 breaks the ignition circuit, and consequently limits the speed of the engine.

\Vhile the vehicle is operating through the high speed gears and it encounters a grade or a stretch ,of road along which the engine cannot propel it, while operating at an efficient speed, the controller operates automatically to control the speed change device and render'the high speed gears ineffective and the intermediate speed gears effective as a drivingagent for the vehicle. This is accomplished owing to the fact that the decreasing speed of the engine, resulting from the heavy load imposed on it by driving the vehicle through the higher speed gears, and the vehicle, re-

The plate does not in any way interfere with the operation of the'vehicle, since the speed v Attention is also called change gears, the

. and the electromagnet42.

lightened load, occasioned by the withdrawal V and actuates the timing device 64 to release the gear 95. It also moves the contact pieces a 58 and 59 into contact with the respective bars 49-51 and 56-57, and consequently, the operation of the timing device completes the control circuit of the motor 26. The 0- sition of the arm 18 is, however, such t at the passage of current through the motor 26, drives it in the reverse direction, so that the car 95 is moved in a clockwise direction. (See Fig. 9.) This, as hasbeen previously described, shifts the positions of thegears 84: and 86, and renders the highspeed gears inoperative and the intermediate s eed gears operative. During the shifting o the speed plate 17 is positively turned by the rod 115 to the position shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 12. This motion of the plate is, in itself, capable of moving the bars 35 from under the contact piece 36 and of thereby deiinergizing the solenoid s soon as the solenoid is deenergized, and the clutch 13 is rendered operative, the engine starts to drive the gear through the intermediate gears, and, owing to the fact that the load is lessened, the engine will tend to speed up, and consequently, to move the plate in the clockwise direction, so that the bars 35 are moved away from the plate 36 and the bars 49-51 and 56-57 are respectively moved from under the contact pieces 58 and 59. If the load on the engine is such that the engine cannot effectively drive the vehiclethrough the intermediate speed gears, the controller will again operate to shift from the intermediate to the lowfspeed gears and thereby still further reduce the load on the eng The operation of shifting from the inter mediate to the low speed gears is substantially the same. as has just been described. As the motor 26 operates to shift the gear 86 out of mesh with the gear 87, it also positively shifts the plate 17 about the arbor 24 and in a clockwise direction, so that the plate is capable of moving to the position shown in Fig. 10, in response to the operation of the centrifugal control apparatus. As soon as the motor speeds up, in response to'the of the master clutch 13, the bars 35' are moved from under the contact piece 36,

and the low speed gears are rendered effective as the driving agent of the vehicle. If the vehicle encounters a grade or a stretch of road along which it cannot be propelled by the engine while operating through the low speed gears, the controller will operate to relieve the engine of the load of the vehicle and thereby prevent it from being stalled. This results from the fact that the arm 18, in moving relatively .ing bars.

to the plate 17,-.to the position illustrated in Fig. 10, rendersthe clutch mechanism 13 inoperative, and causes the motor 26 to shift thegear 88 to the neutral position, tion to the gear 89, and to simultaneously acmate the circuit breaker 68, and thereby break the control circuit of the motor 26. This relieves the engine of the load of the with relavehicle and the vehicle cannot be started with the 7parts in the position described, (see Fig. except by throwing the switch 71 1nto the operative osition. When the switch 71 is moved to the operative position it reverses the flow of current through the control circuit of the motor 26, without the necessity of having thearm 18 swing to the opposlte position, with relation to the plate 17 and, as has been described, the motor 26 operates to move the gear 88 into engagement with the gear 89 and to again close the circuit breaker 68. If the load is still. too great for the engine while operating through the low speed the plate will move in ears, a counter-clockwise direction, due to the the automatic controller moves in response to variations in the relative speeds of the engine shaft and the propeller shaft of the vehicle, and renders a high or a low speed set of gears operative, in response to variations in the load encountered by the engine; and that consequently the engine will operate with maximum efficiency at all times. Attention is also called to the fact that, if the engine 11 is stopped while the speed change device is operating through the high or the intermediate. gears, the motor 26 will operate to successively shift from one set of speed change gears to the next lower set until the low speed gears are finally rendered inoperative and the circuit breaker 68 is operated to break the control circuit of the motor 26. The contact bars on the plate 17 and the coiiperating contact piece on the arm 18 are so arranged that the arm in moving from an intermediate position, relatively to the plate, toward one side or the other of the plate, first moves the contact pieces 58 rand 59 into eng with their respective coiiperating bars and then moves the contact piece with one or the other sets of its coiiperat- With this arrangement, the contact pieces 58 and 59 prepare the controlcircuit of the motor 26, so that, when it is completed, by the engagement of the piece 36 with one or the other set of bars 35 and the resultant operation of the magnet 42, our- 36 into engagement had sufficient time to render rent will flow through the motor in the desired direction. The bars 27 are of such length and so located on the plate 17 that they will break the ignition circuit at, or innnediately prior to, the time that the contact piece 36 engages the bars 35. This permits the clutch 13 to be withdrawn while there is no load on the transmission mechanism, and consequently, while there is no torsional pull between separate members of the clutch. It also insures such a relative movement of the plate and arm that the contacting pieces 36, 5S and 59 will be retained upon their cooperating contact bars a sulficient length of time to insure the operation of the speed change device. ,The retarding or dash-pot action of the solenoid spool 0n the plunger 81 can also be adjusted, by proportioning the clearances between the inner surface of the spool and the plunger, so that the master clutch 13 will not be rendered effective until after the motor 26 has sets of speed change gears effective.

In the drawings I have provided a stop at each end of the plate 17, for limiting the motion of the arm 18, relatively to the plate. These stops prevent the arm from moving off of the plate, but they do not in any way afl'ect'the operation of the controller, since a shifting of the speed change device and the resultant variation in speed of the engine and the vehicle, always tends to vary the relative positions of the plate and arm, so that the arm moves to an intermediate position with relation to the plate.

In Figs. 2 and I have shown the switch 45, so connected to the wiring of the controller that it will render the controller incapable of automatically shifting the gears, and will complete the ignition circuit, independentl v of the operation of the controller. As illustr ed, the switch 45 is so located that when it is thrown to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, it will short circuit the bars 527 and 27' and will break the energ ying circuit of the solenoids and 42. This closes the ignition circuit through the wire 39. a wire 128', the switch and the wire 199, which connects with one leg of the ignition circuit. As has already been described. the other leg of the circuit is ground ed on the frame of the vehicle.

In accordance with the United States patent statutes, I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, but I desire it to be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be made in the apparatus illustrated, with out departing from the-spirit and scope of mv invention as set forth by the appended claims.

IVhat I claim is:

1. In a transmission mechanism, a drivone or the other ing agent, a driven agent, means for varying the torque or purchase of the driving agent on the driven agent, and means, responsive to variations in the speed of rotation of the driving and driven agents, for controlling the operation of said 2. In a transmission mechanism, a. driving agent, a driven agent, turning moment varying means between said driving and said driven agent and means, responsive to variations in the speed of rotation of said driving and said driven agent for controlling said first-mentioned means.

3. In a transmission mechanism, a driving agent, adriven agent, a speed change device between said agents and means, responsive to variations in the speed of rotation of both of said agents, for controlling the operation of said speed change device.

4. In a transmission mechanism, a driving agent, a driven agent, a speed change device between said agents, and centrifugally controlled means, responsive to variations in speed of both of said agents, for controlling the operation of said device.

5. In a transmission mechanism, a driving agent, a driven agent, a speed change device, means for setting the speed change device to different operative positions and a controller for controlling the operation of said means, comprising, means responsive to the speed of the driving agent and cooperating means responsive to the speed of the driven agent.

6. In combination with a transmission mechanism including a driving agent anda driven agent, a speed change device, means for setting the speed change device to different operative positions, and a controller for controlling the operation of said means, comprising, a centrifugally controlled member responsive to variations in the speed of the driving agent and a cooperating centrifugally controlled member, responsive to variations in the speed of the driven agent.

7. In combination with a transmission mechanism including a driving agent, a driven agent and a speed change device between said agents, means for setting the speed change device to dili'erent operative positions, apparatus for controlling the operation of said means, and a controller, responsive to variations in speed of both of said agents, for controlling the operation of the apparatus.

8. In a transmission mechanism, a driving agent, a driven agent, a speed change device between said agents, a clutch mechanism between the driving agent and the speed change device, and load-responsive means for controlling the operation of the speed change device and said clutch.

9. In a transmission mechanism, a driving agent, a driven agent, speed change first-mentioned means.

gears between said agents, a clutch mechanism between the gears and the driving agent, .and load-responsive means for con- ,trolling the operation of the clutch mechanism and for shiftingsaid speed change gears.

' 10. In a transmission mechanism, a driving agent, a driven agent,a speed change device between said agents, a clutch mechanism between said device and said driving agent, and means responsive to variations in the speeds of rotation of said agents, for

to variations 1n speed of both of said agents,

for controlling the operation of said means and of said clutch mechanism.

12. In a transmission mechanism, a driving agenda driven agent, a speed change devicebetween the agents, a clutch mechanism between the device and the driving agent, means for setting the speed change 'device to different operative positions, and

acontroller for said means and the clutch mechanism, comprising a member responsive to variations in the speed of the driving agent, and a cooperating member responsive to variations in speed of the driven agent.

13. In a transmission mechanism, a driving agent, a driven agent, a speed change device between said agents, means for setting the speed change device to difierent operative positions, and a controller for con- .trolling the operation of said means, comprising a member responsive to speed variations of the driving agent, and a cooperating member responsive to speed variations of the driven agent.

14. In a transmission mechanism, a driving agent, a driven agent, a speed change device between said agents, means for setting the speed change device to different operative positions, a motor for actuating said means, a'control device for controlling the operation of the motor, and a controller responsive to load variations for controlling the operation of said control device.

15. In a transmission mechanism, a driving agent, a driven agent, a speed change device between said agents, means for setting the speed change device to difierent operative positions, a control device for contr0lling the operation of said means, and a controller for controlling the operation of said control device, comprising a member responsive to the variations in the speed of the driving agent, and a cooperating member means, a control device for controlling the responsive to variations in the speed of the driven agent.

16. In a transmission mechanism, a speed change device, means jforisetting the speed change device to difierent operative positions, an electric motor for actuating said delivery of current to the motor, and a adresponsive controller for controlling the operation of the control device and for reversmg the operating current to the motor.

17. In a transmission mechanism, a drivmg agent, a driven agent, a speed change device, electrically actuated means for setting the speed change device to different operative positions, a controller responsive to variations 1n the speeds of the driving and driven agents for controlling the operation of'said means, and a cut-out actuated by said speed change device for cutting ofi current to said means, when the speed change device is moved by said means to a determined position.

18. In combination with a driving agent and a driven agent, a speed change mechanism between said agents, means for setting the speed change mechanism to different operative positions, a load responsive controller for controlling the operation of said means, and a device actuated by said mechanism for rendering said means inoperative.

19. In a transmission mechanism, aspeed change device, comprising a plurality of sets of speed change gears, means for shift- [ing said gears, a motor for actuating said means, a control device for controlling the operation of the motor, a load responsive means for controlling said motor and said control device.

20. In combination with a driving agent and a driven agent, a speed change device between said agents, a clutch mechanism between the driving agent and said device, means for setting the device to different onerative positions, a motor for actuating said means, and a controller responsive to variations in the speeds of said agents for con trolling the operation of said motor and said clutch mechanism.

21. In combination with a driving and a driven agent, a speed change device between said agents, a clutch mechanism between the device and the driving agent, electrically actuated means for setting the speed change device to difl'erent operative positions, a solenoid for controlling the operation of the clutch mechanism, and a controller responsive to variations in the speeds of said agents for controlling the operation of said" means and of said solenoid.

22. In combination with a driving and driven agent, a speed change device between the agents, a means for setting the speed change device to difl'erent operative positions, a motor for actuating the means, a devi for locking the means in determined positionsand for controlling the operation of the motor, and a controller responsive to variations in the speeds of said. agents for controlling the operation of the the device.

2am. combination with a. driving and driven agent, a speed change mechanism motor driven means for setting the-speed 7 change mechanism to difierent operative ositions, a device engagingsaid means or controllin thedelivery of current to the motor, an a controller for controlhng the operation of'the device and for reversing the current to the motor, comprisin an element res, onsive to variations in t e speed of the riving agent, and provided with electrical contact bars .and a cooperating element for engagin said bars, responsive to variations in spec of the driven agent.

24.111 combination with a driving and driven agent, a speed change device, electrically actuated means for setting the speed ing agent, a driven agent, a speed change device between said agents, a clutch mechanism between said device and the driving agent, a speed responsive controller for varying the torque or purchase of the speed change device, and for rendering the clutch mechanism inoperative during the torque varrying operation.

26. In a transmission mechamsm, a driving a cut, a driven agent, speed change gears etween said agents, a clutch mechanism between sald gears and sa1d driving agent, load-responsive means for shifting the gears and for rendering the clutch mechanism inoperative during the gear shiftin operation.

I 27. n a transmission mechanism, a driv-, mg a ent, a driven agent, "s eed change gears etween said agents, a c utch'mecha- 1 nism between the gears and the .driving agent, means for shifting the gears and load-responsive means for controlling. the operation ofsaid means and .for rendering the clutch mechanism inoperative, during the operation of shifting the gears.

28. In a transmission mechanism, a driving agent, a driven agent, a speed change device between said agents, means for varying the torque or purchase of the speed change device, and load-responsive means for controlling the operation of said firstmentioned means and for varying the speed of the driving agent during the torque varying operation. v

.29. In a transmission mechanism, a driving agent, a driven agent, a speed change device between said agents, a clutch mechanism between the driving agent and the speed change device, load-responsive means for varying the torque or purchase of the speed change device, for rendering the clutch mechanism inoperative and for varying the speed of the driving agent during the torque varying operation.

30. In a transmission mechanism, a driving agent, a driven agent, speed change gears between the agents, a clutch mechanism between the gears and the driving agent, means for'slufting thespeed change gears and load-responsive means for controlling the operation of the gear shifting means and for rendering the clutch mechanism inoperative during the operation of shifting the gears and for varying the speed of the driving agent.

31. In a transmission mechanism, a driving agent, a driven agent, speed change gears between said agents, a clutch mechanism between said agent, load-responsive means for shifting the gears, for rendering the clutchmechanism inoperative during the gear-shifting gears and the driving operation, and for varying the speed of the driving agent during the gear-shifting,operation.

'32. In a transmission mechanism, a drivmg agent, a driven agent, a speed change device between said agents, a controller for the speed change device comprising a member, movable in response to speed variations of the driving agent, a cooperating member movable relatively to the first-mentioned member, in response to speed variations of the driven agent, and means, actuated by the speed change device, for shifting the relative positions of said members.

33. In a transmission mechanism, a driving agent, a driven agent, a speed change device between the agents, a controllercomprising members independently movable in response to variations in the relative speed of said agents, for controlling the operation of the speed change device, and means, actuated by the speed change device, for varying the relative positions of said members.

34. In a transmission mechanism, a driving agent, a driven agent, speed change gears between said agents, means for shifting said gears, a controller for controlling the operation of said means and comprising an element movable in response to speed variations of the driving agent, and a cooperating-element movable in response to speed variations of the driven agent, and means, actuated by the shifting of said gears, for positively shifting the relative positions of said element.

35. In a transmission mechanism, a driving agent, a driven agent, a speed change device between said agents, a clutch mechanism between the device and the driving agent, electrical means for controlling the operation of the speed change device and the clutch mechanism, a controller operative in response to variations in the speeds of said agents, for controlling the operation of said means and means, actuated by change device for varying the operation of the controller.

36. In a transmission mechanism, a driving agent, a driven agent, a speed change device between the agents, electrical means forfcontrolling the operation of the speed change device, a clutch mechanism between the device and the driving agent, electrical means for controlling the operation of the clutch mechanism and a controller, responsive to variations in the relative speeds of said agents, for controlling theoperation of both of said means and for varying the speed of the driving agent, during the operation of the first-mentioned means.

37. In a transmission mechanism, a driving agent, a driven agent, aispeed change device between the a ents, means for setting the speed change evice to diflerent operative positions, a locking device restrained by said means for controlling the operation thereof, and a controller for said means and said locking device, comprising members the speed shifting operation,

movable relatively to each other, in response to variations in the speeds of the agents.

38. In a transmission mechanism, a driving agent, a driven agent, speed change gears between said agents, electrically actuated means for shifting the gears, an electro mechanical device restrained by said means for controlling the operation thereof, a clutch mechanism between the gears and the driving agent, electrically actuated means for controlling the operation of the clutch mechanism and a controller, responsive to variations in the speeds of said agents, for controlling the operation of both of said means and said electro-mechanical device. 39. In a transmission mechanism, a driving agent, a driven agent, speed change gears between said agents, means for shifting the gears, a device restrained by said means for controlling the operation thereof, a clutch mechanism between the gears and the driving agent, means for controlling the operation of the clutchv mechanism, a controller for controlling the operation of both of said means and the device, comprising elements movable relatively to each other, in response to variations in the speed of said agents, and means, actuated by the gear for changing the relative positions of said elements.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 3rd day of April,

CHARLES S. REINHART. Witnesses:

RALPH I-I. INOTT, E. W. MCCALIJSTER. 

